Brownstoner Reno: Monthly Archives: June 2005

To hide ugly interior A/C units, we’re boxing out spaces in the wall to recess them, and will then cover with salvaged grills. In the music room, we are building a long shelf that incorporates the A/C box (furthest section to the right).

These wall tiles have been grouted with white grout and we’re not sure we like the effect. Should we go over it with some darker grout to get some contrast or not? The rest of the bathrooms are still ungrouted.

The 1″x1″ hexagonal floor tiles have been laid but not grouted. We’re partial to a darker grout that will accentuate the lines between the tiles (similar to as they appear now) while Mrs. B is leaning towards a white grout. What do others think? We need to decide by the end of the week. We’re facing the same issue with the wall tiles too.

Another design choice to offend the more modest: Here’s a salavaged glass door we picked up at Eddie’s Salvage last weekend for $20. It came out of a house on Vanderbilt Avenue. It looks like it’s in worse shape than it is. The peeling paint is all bark and no bite. It actually a very nice, old door that should fit in rather well. And the price was right.

The salvaged parquet has been laid in the music room and fits seamlessly with the existing parquet in the living room at the front of the second floor. We’re sure they won’t look exactly the same when they are sanded and finished, but we think it’ll turn out nicely.

Since the second floor is our main living/entertaining space for the next few years, we decided to spring for wood windows in the rear. For Landmarks conformance, we are doing all wood windows on the front, but other than the second floor, all the rear windows are dark aluminum.

The dividing door in the parlor hallway is moving along. We repurposed the moldings from an old doorway to add some nice detailing to what is an unfortunate but necessary detraction from the glory of the front hall. Check out the view from one week earlier on the link.

The stripping of the marble fireplaces continues apace. We ran the wires you see in this fireplace (third floor tv room) to accommodate the flat screen that will live over the mantel.

The first subway tiles were installed on Friday in the master bathroom. We have to finish the walls around the bath before we attempt to move the massive porcelain tub from where it now sits in our bedroom.